Australia has filed a AU$2 billion Federal Court suit against 3M, alleging the company knew firefighting foam contained harmful PFAS and failed to disclose disposal and environmental risks. The contamination affects 28 defence bases and has led to removal of about 200,000 tonnes of polluted soil. The military spent roughly AU$1.3 billion treating 13 billion litres of contaminated water and supplying alternatives to 785 properties. 3M says it will contest the claims and notes it stopped selling the disputed products in Australia around two decades ago.
Australia Files AU$2 Billion Federal Court Suit Against 3M Over PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'
The US multinational maker of Post-it and Scotch tape is also being sued in the United States over its use of PFAS (David PINTENS)(David PINTENS/BELGA/AFP)
Australia's federal government has launched a AU$2 billion (US$1.43 billion) lawsuit against US consumer-goods giant 3M, alleging the company knowingly supplied firefighting foam that contaminated 28 defence bases with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil said the government is seeking damages to cover the costs of identifying, containing and remediating PFAS contamination at military sites. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland described the action as one of the most significant legal cases ever brought by an Australian government.
In a statement lodged in the Federal Court the government alleges that 3M was aware of environmental and disposal risks associated with the firefighting foam but failed to disclose them. "3M gave assurances about disposal and environmental safety that were inconsistent with what the company knew at the time," the statement said.
3M responded by saying it will "defend ourselves against these claims through the legal process," noting that the company "has never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products at issue in Australia around two decades ago." The multinational also reached a separate roughly US$10 billion settlement in the United States in 2023 over PFAS-related water contamination.
Water Contamination and Community Impact
PFAS—commonly called "forever chemicals" because they degrade extremely slowly—are human-made compounds used to repel heat, water and oil. They have been used in products from nonstick cookware to stain-resistant carpets and firefighting foams. Growing scientific evidence links PFAS exposure to adverse health effects, prompting tighter restrictions worldwide.
Although the Australian Defence Force phased out PFAS-containing foams in 2004, high concentrations remain at many sites. The defence force has removed about 200,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and, according to parliamentary inquiry findings, communities near bases have reported contaminated waterways and concerns about health impacts. An Aboriginal community near a New South Wales navy base told the inquiry that locals bathed in and gathered food from rivers affected by foam.
Water authority testing identified a PFAS hotspot in the Blue Mountains area in 2024, close to an air force base. As concern mounted, the military spent around AU$1.3 billion treating roughly 13 billion litres of contaminated water and providing alternative supplies—such as bottled water and rainwater tanks—to 785 properties. In 2023 the government approved a AU$133 million class action settlement with residents from seven affected communities.
What Happens Next? The case will proceed in the Federal Court, where both sides are expected to present evidence about what 3M knew, when it knew it, and the scale of remediation costs the government seeks to recover.
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